they've got one one final question you've got the feeling nervous and so i wouldn't it was of the european parliament behind you it's the man who got told that you'll miss about that assembly if if you come to leave i'm not standing for the new party or the european elections is there anything you'll miss about the the brussels parliament and the european perspective yeah absolutely look it's been when i got elected i actually said to my wife i've been handed a front row seat to history and it's true i mean we see presidents receive prime ministers here we see the pope and you get to come to strasburg which is a beautiful city in the heart of year or you know we live europe it's just the e.u. with that we're not very fond of the food great the weather is usually really nice we've made lots of friends here it's been a big part of my life alex and whenever a chapter closes it is kind of sad regardless of what was involved in that chapter but what i'm looking forward to wholeheartedly is opening up a new chapter in my life and hopefully politics will not be a part of that because hopefully we will have

those are all reasons why the european union, the democratically elected parliament of the european union sanctions. well, what i can tell you about the democratically elected european parliament is that they made a cheating during the voting. you know why? because in all parliaments in the world, including the european parliament, you have three options — vote yes, vote no, and vote abstention. and the only way that they could create a two—form majority was that they took out abstentions from counting. did you know that? isn't there a simple truth at the heart of hungary... crosstalk. any time from european bureaucrats, how is it possible that in a vote session you take abstention out? totally contradicting the modus operandi in that parliament. what would you raise as a question if we had done the same in hungary? double standards you apply always. we have to understand, there is a phenomena that we are usually under attack by a mainstream media and mainstream political elite in europe and it is very unusual that someone fights back but we are not ready to take these accusations and all

heard from the president of the european parliament. question of the axed up, the irish border backstop, not being in the macro the backstop not being in the macro the backstop not being in the agreement. he said that he needed to upgrade the political agreement which is now not binding and he said there was a need to make it more binding and provide assurance on the backstop. that seems like it was contained within their discussions. plenty more of that in the next couple of hours but first the weather. some very wet and windy weather in the far forecast, storm some very wet and windy weather in the farforecast, storm eric some very wet and windy weather in the far forecast, storm eric moving in from friday. we have seen some gusts already today, 79 miles per hour on the isle of wight. the gusts of wind are associated with this initial area of low pressure which will ease through the afternoon, this next storm eric moving in. sunny spells and blustery showers for western areas this afternoon, the odd rumble of thunder, one or two being

the obligations of a brought you've been twice chair of the foreign affairs committee of the european parliament many people would argue that veteran will be diminished by leaving the european union from your estimation will the unity and union also be does diminished by losing the influence of a major member state for sure it's a lose lose situation for both of us and in economic reasons as a trading power but also in security policy you would like to have britain in about britain is in this market case certain times smaller than the market of the european union so you know we'll build a stronger pot negotiate in free trade deals over the world what we have done already sixty five countries including just now is japan britain has nothing and to be have to see that in security policy they have to come closer together. internal security fighting terrorism for example and therefore i would prefer that britain would stay in or it does not stay in v. would have a deal. which makes it possible for the free trade agreements for press even customs union for internal and external security and such quest

because it's the european parliament that has recognized not the european union as such italy vetoed that israel as you probably know but when the european parliament decided to recognize why doris lee which originally direct quote is quoted article two three three two hundred thirty three of the venezuelan constitution the article in question deals with what happens when the president cannot fulfill his function but we all know we can see that president maduro clearly does fulfill his presidential functions so article two three three does not give any legitimacy or any legality at all to one why do other things because in the case that the president can't fulfill his functions it's the vice president who takes over it's not the speaker of the national or the head of the national assembly so there's absolutely no legal basis the tool for this recognition by the european parliament and i find it deeply disturbing that an organization like the european parliament which says all the time that it stands for a rules based international system uses that phrase to attack russia or all the t

agreement it's a sign of the use deeper push for open market accords with asian countries the european parliament will decide by wednesday afternoon in brussels if it approves the deal but all indications show that it will it's the first trade agreement with a member of the association of southeast asian nations a group of countries in the region that have teamed up to promote economic growth now the deal aims to remove virtually all barriers to trade within five years in the past year trade between the e.u. and singapore amounted to fifty three billion euros it's hoped the agreement will result in a rise of up to ten percent and bilateral trade the e.u. is already singapore's most important export destination for services and singapore is that used largest trading partner in south east asia now for some more perspective on this deal let's go to our correspondent max hoffmann in strasbourg at the european parliament where the lawmakers will vote on the deal later today max good to see you bilateral investment between singapore and the e.u. is over two hundred and fifty billion euros that seems an

say right now but i mean the european parliament is the first european institution to do this nude ask member states to do the same as quickly as possible in order to ensure that we have a strong unified european position. the united kingdom germany and france had given nicolas maduro until monday to say he was going to organize fresh elections otherwise they would throw their support behind one door well it does seem almost certain that that's going to happen now particularly when we hear from nicolas maduro that he has no intention of stepping aside no intention of calling elections in fact he says the next elections in his country they'll be in twenty twenty five when his current term is set to come to an end there is some international support for nicolas maduro though the african union china turkey and russia have all said that they're against this international push for. the new summit of the classroom and now he is not a self-proclaimed president external forces declared him as the president offering different types of support including financial technical political and moral ve

welcome to the excitement show from outside the european parliament building and brussels now the prime minister koizumi frame lead her backstory deal with the european commission put it to the west coast of parliament last month and had it flown back in our face for recommend jordi of two hundred thirty votes now she's trying to tweak rather government can agree with the commission agreement with the westminster parliament but even there should she decide to have to throw help those to overcome firstly a burden or legislation which is still got to go through the westminster parliament i'm secondly any deal would have to be ratified by the european parliament and the subject hundred fifty one members in the building behind me normally they would ratify anything recommended by the commission but as a patient finally running out with the u.k. and this parliament building the dying embers of the spa moment we talk to any peace who will know the answer the first part to the studio with the last in our cities and then like first we hear from susan he says other small countries he did this bu

any deal would have to be ratified by the european parliament on the subject hundred fifty one members in the building behind me normally they would ratify anything recommended by the commission but patience finally running out with the u.k. in this parliament building the darling of those parliament. who know the answer to first brought to the studio with you. and your messages thank you alex you've had a great response to the last in our series on denmark first we hear from susan he says other small countries he did this building to once again bravo to alex aventura team thank you so much always kind as ever arthur says we were seeing another indian nation is called include and should be teddy says another fantastic and informative program thanks alex and sludge dave says we love the jeans but they need to bring pork and back and so see all of us would agree that was when she came gordon says it looks like a place of hope i would like to someday visit well i hope you get the chance wendy and finally gabriel says art is amazing and the boat and of course cable segment the wonderful un

story out and here in europe that you know that that difficulty was recognized today by the european parliament when it through its support behind one it also urged all members of the european union to do the same and they're there giving an ultimatum to mature ro either hold elections you know within the next six to seven eight days or they will automatically support one in your opinion is it even possible for but it's way away in the condition the country is in right now to even consider putting a national election together in the matter of a week or two. well yes this is very the tour only a driven country need to have two or three elections a year since charges came into power we have elections every year and they didn't quickly assemble and put together and generally there's there's really how the attendance in the voting polls just in the past few elections it has been completely different voter turnout of third there were twenty percent which is the lowest we've had in our history in our recent history so i think people who. are really devoted to democracy and going out to vote and havin

add the european parliament to a growing list. if you will in the budget at this moment the security services aren't my house asking about my wife. the dictatorship is trying to intimidate us then it's what is ready for a change but we cannot let these but this is good when it comes to defending human rights freedom and democracy you cannot be neutral. parliament recognizes mr plagal as the legitimate interim president of venezuela went to the presidential elections that were held to that many in the misled and with locking them up trying to get to a scene in tripoli time of the only way to control this crisis. also coming up tonight survivors of the holocaust many fled to israel and never looked back for those who did there would be a reward and a price to pay. and been later on my husband and i were back here and ready to talk to germans they attacked us and said they wanted to make soap on of you and you talk to them how dare you but we did it and i still believe that it's the right thing to do. but to our viewers on p.b.s. in

s departure from the european. parliament rejects the deal to bring you the latest from london brussels also on the program. india's. response to indian fighter jets hitting targets inside the country india says terrorist camps and that the strikes killed hundreds says there was no casualties also. there was no. traffic church's highest ranking clerics how australia. is found guilty of sexually assaulting two boys a dramatic fall from grace for the former fighter i'm going to pope francis'. president trump arrives in hanoi for his summit for the north korean leader kim jong il by the two leaders will discuss nuclear arms the korean. i'm welcome to the program. britain's prime minister has told members of parliament that they will have a chance to delay breck said if they defeat her deal again threesome a change of heart came after several senior ministers threatened to resign there she allowed him to extend the march deadline to avoid the u.k. crashing out of the e.u. without a deal parliament is due to hold its next vote on

members of the european parliament invited to visit venezuela have been refused entry to the country they would use a meter of the country's national assembly and opposition leader. to discuss the ongoing political crisis according to the opposition and members of the delegation they were denied entry it's airports and then expelled and this is the most you know at this moment we're being expelled from venezuela they've retained our passports they've not told us the reason of not provided any documents that justifies why they're throwing us out of the country we came to venezuela on the official invitation of venezuela's national assembly which is an internationally recognized institution even if i migiro it's a constitutional institution yet even invited by a constitutional institution they've not let us enter we are the first international delegation that was going to visit the interim president one guy you know this is not about letting us in but about preventing interim president one guy you do from seeing any dignitary from outside venezuela when a dictator closes the window and

direction efforts to get the deal through parliament and vote for perry through upstate from for greater today protesters for and against britain's withdrawing from the european union have been gathering outside the british house of parliament ahead of today's vote at the feet would hinder the prime minister's ability to bring the kosi eight and win approval for her european union withdrawal deal. let's get the view of this from actual european country the bali germany's that justice minister she's also standing for election to the european parliament as the german social democrats lead candidate she's also have to have a british welcome to day doubly so when you hear the words of the word bricks it's what goes through your mind always deep sigh i'm really sad that i thought it came this way. nobody seems to find a way out how it we can we can take this without without having a great damage to as well the u.k. as to the rest of you do you have any sympathy for teresa mayes position well for a long time i thought she's doing the best she can but these last six weeks my feeling is that she's only trying to to gain time and to put more pressure on to the other m

internal we are not agreeing we are going to remember we are we are supporting our allies in the european parliament that is more in the pan and it's clear that we are free to criticize proposals also regarding the future of the european union by any governments in the e.u. and also consider only. where. you are supporting a group that wants macro out macro resigned yellow vests against the state this is an opposition movement and you are interfering in france is now we are nice supporting it we are not interfering later when you were originally come to italy and we have sent money around expressing their view on the italian government to many times also are there because you said what you said other politicians that this government is a populist looks enough of me and there really isn't many in your government didn't mention that mr salvini they mention had links to the position of the french government on mr micron and that's a position on a lot of establishment or traditional european parties in the european parliament he was saying that you saying he hurt your feelings yeah i mean you know are m

now, speaking after the meeting, prime minister may, european parliament president antonio warned of the catastrophic consequences of a no deal brexit this is the reality of a no deal brexit it should be a dangerous solution, no deal brexit zoo let's get to wilham who has been waufing all of these dwoemts developments we just heard from tajani they're warning about the no deal brexit. we are less than 50 days away. the default snar joe is no deal. is there any cause for optimism here >> well, we heard from theresa may yesterday that these talks would yet yield more talks on monday down in straussburg the other places where the european parliament meets, of course no indication so far from any of the four european officials she met with here yesterday that there would be any substantial concessions on the irish backstop that's the insurance policy guarantee around the hard border essentially no sign that they would help her find any legally binding replacement or a replacement to the backstop that those in westminster have been seeking. mrs. may still putting a positive spin on the me

the european parliament that is marine le pen and it's clear that we are free to criticize proposals also regarding the future of the european union by any governments in the e.u. also could this is the only. way. you're supporting a group that wants micro ouch macro resign yellow vests against the state this is an opposition movement and you are into fearing in france is now we are nice supporting it we are not interfering later when we were initially they don't come to italy and we have sent money there are expressing their view on the taliban government to many times also are there because the sessions want to see other politicians that this government is a populist looks enough of me that they're going to maintain your government by only mention of mr salvini they mention a delete so that's the position of the french government on mr micron and that's a position on a lot of establishment or traditional european parties in the european parliament he was saying that you saying he hurt your feelings yeah i mean you know my apologies in my view. you know you guys give you a show you e

but those two at the moment are on the sidelines because the european parliament will only get to vote on something once house of commons in the u.k. has agreed on it and of course the different member states in the european union so if any change is to come from the european union it is from the member states but so far they have maintained their unity maybe to the surprise of some also backing ireland on the question of the hard border between northern ireland and ireland already saying on wednesday that this was not a bilateral issue that this was a european union issue so if the recent days hoping that at some point the european union might cave in and that this unity would no longer be part of the negotiations so far we cannot see any indication that this might happen due to the use of bureau chief in brussels max hoffman thank you. ari let's bring up as we know some of the other stories making news around the world. france is recalling it some best that are to italy amid mounting tension after italy's deputy prime minister met french yellow vest protesters while paris is also ang

strong words exchanged in the european parliament with italy's prime minister puppets after he accuses you of being out of touch. is just ten three pm here in moscow welcome to r.t. international. syria is demanding action from the united nations security council damascus accuses the u.s. led coalition of killing sixteen civilians and injuring dozens in a bombing raids over the border with iraq. video agency raptly filmed the aftermath of what appears to have been a combination of strikes and shelling mark gasnier takes a closer look. syria again is accusing the united states of war crimes february twenty ninth in the u.s. led coalition committed a new crime against innocent syrian civilians is were playing targeted a civilian camp in the village of who's in the countryside of the governorate of. sixteen civilians including seven children were killed and seventy civilians most of them women and children were injured syria again calls on the un security council to stand up against these crimes and the turks and to shoulder its responsibilities in the maintenance of international peace a

negotiating strategy plug in regard to those one of britain's most influential members of the european parliament as well as one of the long. just serving how do other of europeans regard what's happening to britain do the understand atolls or any explanation mean you can offer who should lighten them i mean alex before i came on to your program are seeing two year producers that i growing up in scotland i watched years a politician growing up and a lot of respect for you so i want to be very honest and say to you that what has happened in recent days and weeks is that there's a growing i think a growing frustration with britain i think for a long time there was a lot of patience and a lot of goodwill but i want to be honest with you and say that what i'm detecting in the last days maybe the last few weeks is a growing irritation and i want to be honest about it that people are starting to get very tired of this process the you see it in the legislation you see it in quiet ways but honestly i think people are getting tired they're getting tired of the process that again tired of the way the negot

bunch of the top you're germany's justice minister you're also starting for election to the european parliament would you do both jobs or would you resign no i will resign as a minister of obviously. i will serene resign as a member of german parliament i will then concentrate absolutely on your wives are because i just i look at this i look at you're about god in the government and you've you've you were a family affairs for nine months. i gave you the labor and social affairs brief as well and then you talk about your minister for justice for eleven months or so are you a committed european or are you just a good politician that your party is sending to sort out trouble well i didn't say yes in the very first place when they asked me to run for the european elections because i really love what i'm doing at the moment and as you mentioned i really wanted to do that for a long time but as you look up the developments in europe a really convinced that the most committed europeans have to go to this european parliament because we are facing a real danger from the far right we're really facing the

so it is a very busy time for the eu and those represented in the european parliament.the perspective of those running businesses like yourself, a delay to article 50, is that a good thing or not? you know, the uncertainty, with what businesses often talking about, we just want to figure out what is going on and we have to say that delay in for a few months when there isa delay in for a few months when there is a chance of avoiding a no deal is going to be worth it. serb that is better than a deal... it is absolutely rather than a no deal. we do business personally within europe and also outside of europe, and, you know, is this isn't easy. i don't know, is this isn't easy. i don't know why everybody is pointing to business and saying, you aren't prepared, why don't you sort it out? we are breaking our backs, it is blood, sweat and tears to do business in general. whatever size of the business, no businesses to date —— too big to fail or too small to succeed. the point is that it is ha rd to succeed. the point is that it is hard work and the constant barriers put in fro

and to the european parliament and to the european parliament andor not and if not, there is the possibly of a no deal. we have not talked about jeremy corbyn's letter. donald tusk said nothing happened this week. theresa may did not come with any plans or new ideas but there is something in jeremy corbyn's letter and it would resolve most of the backstop problem, which is to remain in the custom union. of course it creates some inner problems for the labour party because a lot of people in the labour partyjust party because a lot of people in the labour party just want party because a lot of people in the labour partyjust want a second referendum or just plain labour partyjust want a second referendum orjust plain remainers. but what he is proposing is a soft brexit. and there should be probably a majority in westminster for a soft brexit? i don't think you would get very many labour mps who in the end will vote for any deal of terrorism in —— theresa may's at all. they regard any brexit as a disaster. when it comes to it, it is a bit of a false pl

then inside its government has blocked members of the european parliament from entering the country it's been invited by opposition to one guy day to meet the national assembly quite dead is also trying to enlist a million volunteers to head to the border on saturday to see foreign aid being stalled in neighboring countries. we're being expelled from venezuela our passports have been withheld we've not been informed of the reason nor do we have any document that justifies it because they have just thrown us out we came to venezuela with an official invitation from the national assembly a body that is recognized internationally and even recognized by the venezuelan president we are the first international delegate. that was visiting the interim president one guy do when in a country a dictator closes the windows and turns off the lights that is when he goes from words to actions long live a free venezuela. as the standoff intensifies to present the door of venezuelans continue to leave the country in droves the crumbling economy has already forced more than three million to seek a new lif

but as late as government says blocks members of the european parliament from entering the country a group had been invited to meet venezuela's national assembly by the opposition leader one day and meanwhile trying to enlist the help of volunteers to confront a government blockade on. the border hundreds of thousands of civilians are expected to try to take supplies through on saturday and in the moment those numbers you know we're being expelled from venezuela our passports have been withheld we've not been informed of the reason nor do we have any document that justifies it because they have just thrown us out we came to venezuela with an official invitation from the national assembly a body that is recognized internationally and even recognized by the venezuelan president we are the first international delegation that was visiting the interim president one guy do when in a country a dictator closes the windows and turns off the lights that is when he goes from words to actions long live a free venezuela. meanwhile hundreds of venezuela migrants continue to cross into brazil each

they go beyond that and let's say in the first session which takes place in july of the new european parliament that parliament makes a decision a legally binding decision then it gets complicated because than anyone in britain or anywhere in the european union could probably go to court and say hang on a second the u.k. at that point was technically speaking part of the european union they did not get their say in this decision by the european parliament so any decision that the parliament takes that without the brits could be very difficult to stand up in court and that's why everybody talks about an extension up until the end of june our final question to you about us. on this question of a second referendum britain's main opposition and i was yesterday that they would not support a second referendum under certain specific circumstances this is a mess already how disruptive would a second referendum be to british life and british politics. well that of course depends who you ask those who have fought for a second referendum for them this is really a very happy moment and very happy succumb s

the european parliament voted last september voting unity that measures against your government because european norms and values. there were 69 points in this report. out of which, 13 have already been agreed by the government and by the european commission back in the thousand 11— 2013 so we can consider them close. there were 19 points on which we have constant dialogue, which is the normal way of resolving different approaches about issues in the eu. and they were 37 points which were simple, systematic qualified lies about my country. i was there twice in the commission and answered all these questions. more than 100 pages, point to point, going through why those are lies and not sure about my country. we can go through some of them if you like, which are clearly not lies, for example the central european university has been denied the ability to hand out us degrees it is therefore forced to move to vienna... that is a big lie. that is fake news. they are here.|j have been, i have spoken to the director... he says... that they are here. it is not a lie that the headquarters has mov

of february fourth is a day that we didn't give up when we continued a european parliament had already made a pronouncement. and me and the euro deputies the members of the european parliament i have a watching very closely what's going on air they want us to exercise our legal authority. we've said we need for humanitarian aid to get into our country. for all of your family members and all the members of the population because that fifty three and million. dollars and the people who have to get in there at rates at risk and they're all at risk. there are two short term things we're focused on. that is to bring in. this aid. and this and also. the approval of the of the aid and to get it in to us in this regard canada. we heard from. prime minister just temperate oh announced today. has requested fifty three million dollars where they to be provided in less than a month and as expect as expresses confidence and respect for our constitution that. the international community has been clear we have to raise the profile of this crisis we are having this yesterday and made a florida spell a

first of all, bed and make this all has to go through the european parliament, there is more than onegreement that doesn't do right by ireland doesn't secure the peace in northern ireland and will of course want to insist that we protect the integrity of the single market and customs union which ireland wants to protect as well because it is part of our economic strategy that we are in the eurozone and we will protect the single market and customs union. i do have a concern about this idea around alternative arrangements. we need to bear in mind that this majority that perhaps existed in the house of commons for alternative arrangements probably only exist because alternative arrangements can because alternative arrangements can be whatever you want them to mean. i don't believe that would have passed to people how to get into the details of alternative arrangements. the concept is there in the joint political declaration on the future relationship. it is something that can be explored, something we can talk about but cannot result in the deletion of the backstop. that's the fundament

the european parliament voted.ow we have france, spain, germany and britain who have recognized the new interim leader as president. how long can you go on with this? how long can healed on? claudia: it doesn't depend on that. a president does not hold or hold on because of foreign countries asking them or liking them or not. reporter: he has impoverished become -- the country and subject them to massive represession. claudia: whatever you want to put your views, you have elections to do it. we had it in may last year. the majority of people -- >> widely judged. claudia: why the european countries say if they want to like a government or not in a country that does not belong to their system? brent: that is an interview you don't want to miss. you can catch the entire interview starting wednesday at1730 -- 1730 utc. it will also be available online at dw.com/conflictzone. and is a historic video to -- visit to the united arab emirates, pope francis has urged leaders to and work in interfaith meeting. he entered the

the european union is a turning point now with the next election, and i hope that the next european parliamentl be able to face together at those challenges that we are still facing, and we are facing now and that we will be facing in the future. it is about policy makers had to think out of the box, and will even of time up technology and we had to be disrupted, but not distracted. people want to have politicians that fit around the table constructively and look together how to reach build bridges, not to break bridges, and so fix the problem. a politician just brain, protests, attack, surf fears and stir hate. that is the real divide. politicians who say what they want, who inspire, who look at the future, who talk about our children's better life and climate, jobs security, migration issues that we can all sold together for the weather you like it or not, there is no national solution. thank you very much indeed. ana maria and martyr as you and pauline, all my panel here, that ends the tradition of global questions from rome, and thank you to my audience. we have been discussing politics an

what exactly happened it was quite the debut speech from the italian prime minister in the european parliament in strasburg just can't take a set out the way italy sees the future of the european union and also highlighted the challenges to the goals that rome wants to achieve well this was seized upon by saw him in parliament there was quite scenes and some strong debate we heard from gave ehrhoff start senior polman tarion within the european parliament also certainly no shrinking violet he went as far as to call the italian prime minister a puppet. of the european project seems to have lost its momentum but we have seen the transfer of powers increasingly from the countries to the union my question for you mr conti is how much longer will you continue to be the puppet on salvini and in my own strings europe faced with an economic crisis without precedent has withdrawn fearfully into procedure as a whole and it's progressively lost contact with its people it is so painful for me to see italy's political degeneration progressively in this policy has lost its representative justification to be

the president of the european commission and she also mentioned that senior officials in the european parliament which of course also lost a lot of hide withdrawal weave and finally she met donald to speak of course the president of the european council who made those thoroughly colorful remarks yesterday about a special kiss of hell for four years who didn't prepare for all of the problems that we would be currently out of she didn't put forward any concrete details on the high she wants to see it this withdrawal grievance i think she wanted to simply come in saying look i want to have legally binding changes to this backstop and we can then talk about how we actually manage that and how we can work this out together but she did she did not get a very warm so actually in brussels because the european union says that the withdrawal agreement cannot be reopened. point tony i want you to listen to what the european parliament's breaks a good team and what he said today about what can be done take a listen all proposal ace to try to solve the problem in the political declaration because we are open